All year I dream of the days of May
when the sun is warm, the sky is blue, the grass is green, and the garden is all new again!

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Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Betting on Betony

I have two varieties of betony, Stachys officinalis, in my garden. There is 'Hummelo', which has finished blooming now, or pretty much so.

Then there is 'Nana', growing in a little miniature garden setting.

Ancient herbalist thought betony was "effective against sorcery". I've never heard of anyone looking for something "effective against sorcery". Later it was planted in churchyards to prevent the activity of ghosts.

Suddenly, it feels safer to go out into the garden at night, now that I have betony, Stachys officinalis, two kinds, growing in my garden. I fear not those ghosts or anyone who might try to practice sorcery out there.

Plus, modern herbalist prescribe betony to cure anxiety. This is such an easy plant to grow, that I bet just growing it would cure some "horto anxiety" in the garden.

I'm trying 'Hummelo' this year too in So.Calif. and your photo of those upright spears is just what I'm after. No bloom from mine yet, just planted in spring, but was hoping for a couple months of bloom from them. Maybe that's overly optimistic.

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